FilterGuy
Solar Engineering Consultant - EG4 and Consumers
I looked into this a little bit.
HOWEVER: Setting up the SDI will create the possibility of a dark start scenario: If the inverter shuts down during a power outage due to low battery, the SMI will be shut down. When that happens, the optimizers will go into their RSD function so the solar is no longer able to charge the batteries. I do not know of a workaround for this. (The Tigo CCA is powered by 12-24V DC and that allows a workaround when using the 18Kpv)
- The solar edge optimizers have built-in RSD.
- To get the optimizer's RSD function to work properly, they must be connected to either a Solar Edge inverter or a solar edge SMI (Safety and Monitoring Interface) device. (If you are familiar with Tigo CCA, the SMI is very similar.) The SMI will keep a constant communication with the Optimizers and if the communication ever stops, the optimizers initiate a RSD function. The communication is a proprietary format, so Sunspec transmitters will not keep them alive)
- The SMI not only controls the RSD function, but it also provides panel-level data through its onboard screen as well as over the internet. (The Tigo CCA only provides data over the internet)
- The SMI is powered by AC. They want you to plug the AC into the output of the inverter so if the inverter goes into an RSD state and shuts down, the SMI turns off and the optimizers go into an RSD state.
- If you want the solar edge optimizers to operate without the SMI or SE inverter, you can use the Solar Edge Key to disable the RSD function of the optimizers. Once the function is disabled, the optimizers will no longer go into the RSD state if communication is lost.
HOWEVER: Setting up the SDI will create the possibility of a dark start scenario: If the inverter shuts down during a power outage due to low battery, the SMI will be shut down. When that happens, the optimizers will go into their RSD function so the solar is no longer able to charge the batteries. I do not know of a workaround for this. (The Tigo CCA is powered by 12-24V DC and that allows a workaround when using the 18Kpv)